Houston Primary keeps Clean Renfrewshire moving on

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Armed with litter pickers, black bags and the support of the Clean Renfrewshire team, 30 pupils targeted the perimeter surrounding Houston Primary School in an attempt to instil a sense of pride within their environment and encourage others to step forward to ensure that the Clean Renfrewshire campaign retains momentum.

Following the launch of the campaign in May 2008, over 550 volunteers from a wide variety of youth and community groups and schools have taken part in over 30 clean ups.

Two representatives from each class, with the support of five parents, took part in the first clean up of 2009 as part of the Clean Renfrewshire campaign.

Although this was the first clean up which the pupils have taken part in since the campaign launched, their efforts made an impressive impact on the area they targeted. They collected a total of 13 bags picking up a range of rubbish including sweet wrappers, plastic bottles and even a toilet seat!

To reinforce the activity being carried out by individuals and groups, the campaign has a stepped up a gear and entered into its second phase, with the introduction of Renfrewshire Wardens who have recently taken to the streets to increase further awareness about the need to maintain a clean environment and issue fixed penalty notices to those who continue to drop litter or allow their dogs to foul the county's streets and parks.

As part of their wider community role, the wardens also have the power to issue £50 fixed penalty notices for littering and £40 fixed penalty notices for dog fouling, demonstrating that Clean Renfrewshire means business.

Diana Brooker, principal teacher at Houston Primary School, said: "It is important that we engage with our pupils to ensure that Clean Renfrewshire is a success. By ensuring that they take an active role by taking part in clean ups, we can all make sure Renfrewshire is a cleaner place."

"Our pupils have shown a great deal of enthusiasm and I would like to commend their efforts. They have also worked hard to engage with their peers to make sure that all our pupils realise that they have a responsibility to make sure we live in a clean environment."

Loryn Young, who is ten years old and a primary six pupil at Houston Primary School said: "I really enjoyed taking part in our first clean up. We all worked hard to pull together as we are determined to make a real difference to our school. We were amazed by the amount of rubbish we collected in a short period of time and I can't wait to take part in our next clean up."

Cllr Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council's environment and infrastructure policy board, said: "The support which pupils from Houston Primary School have shown towards the Clean Renfrewshire campaign demonstrates that people are still determined to push the campaign further forward and make it succeed."

"Groups such as Houston Primary School have significantly contributed to the great headway which has been made over the course of the last eight months to create a cleaner and tidier Renfrewshire. However, there is still scope for further improvement and more people must be encouraged to get on board."

"I am confident that we can all pull together and build on the success we have achieved so far to ensure Renfrewshire will be continued to be viewed as a bright and attractive place to live, work and to visit."

Press release issued by BIG Partnership for Renfrewshire Council: Thursday 22 January 2009